August 21, 2020
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Friday, August 21, 2020 Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, in the best interests of our residents and business community, continues his daily morning meetings with his cabinet heads as they work 24/7 to facilitate and coordinate with all of our local, state, federal, and public and private partners in response to the COVID-19 situation. Below are the most recent updates as reported from each City Departments. Mayor’s Office Continues to coordinate the city’s efforts with all stakeholders (state, federal, hospital and medical facilities, public and private partners, etc.) in response of services and relief and recovery measures Continuing to monitor the COVID-19 situation closely so that as the city begins with phased reopening aspects, the city does not ease prudent measures too early, which could potentially expose our residents to a second wave of the virus Continues to stress the need for additional target testing in order to build strong public, business, consumer, and hospital confidences to identify, isolate, contact trace, mitigate and heal potential hot spot areas City Hall and all municipal buildings have reopened, by appointment only and with additional restrictions, as part of the city’s Phased reopening plans . Temperature checks and face coverings needed to enter city buildings to proactively protect and preserve our workforce . Continuing to encourage residents and businesses to conduct city related business by phone or through the city’s website Continues to coordinate with cabinet and department heads on reopening aspects of all municipal buildings Heartfelt thank you to our Springfield Community for stepping up with PPE donations, allowing the city to outfit our dedicated police, fire and frontline workers with the appropriate safety equipment Mayor Sarno and cabinet heads continue to review Governor’s Phase 3 reopening plan Governor Baker announced new initiatives to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 o Issues new Travel Order for all travelers entering Massachusetts that took effect on August 1st . Rhode Island taken off state safe travel / low-risk state list . Hawaii taken off state safe travel / low-risk state list 1 o Announced the extension of the Stop the Spread initiative through September 12, 2020 o Updated gatherings order . Reduced outdoor gatherings from 100 to 50 (indoor gathering limit will remain at 25) Mayor Sarno announced that former Chief Justice Roderick Ireland will serve as Special Advisor to Mayor Sarno on DOJ police reforms Mayor Sarno joined with Fire Commissioner Calvi to swear in 5 new firefighters and promote a new Deputy Chief. Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) has listed Springfield as moderate risk for COVID-19 cases: 4-8 cases per 1,000 for a 14 day period MDPH is mandating new immunization requirements for influenza vaccine for attending childcare/preschool, grades kindergarten – 12 and postsecondary institutions (with certain exceptions) Mayor Sarno joined with the Indian Orchard Citizen’s Council in support of their Indian Orchard Blooms’ Campaign in the neighborhood and along Boston Road Health Announced 7 total new cases of Springfield residents testing positive for COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Total positive cases now at 2,965 o City starting to see a leveling of cases, however we must remain vigilant o State has begun reporting probable new cases in addition to confirmed cases o 130 deaths of Springfield residents related to COVID-19 . State has reclassified the ‘causes of death’ for prior deaths which may not have been attributed to COVID-19 related conditions and underlying health symptoms . 57 deaths reported from long term care facilities . 73 residential deaths . Ethnic breakdown of deaths: 56 White – 43.1% 31 Black – 23.8% 41 Hispanic – 31.5% 2 Asian – 1.5% o Average age of positives cases – 51 years old o Average age of hospitalizations – 68 years old o Average age of deaths – 81 o 98.5% of deaths had underlining health conditions Continues to monitor potential COVID-19 cluster locations across the city, especially at our long-term care facilities. Continues to monitor stores and locations, and reviewing compliance with the Governor’s public health order for face coverings and reopening aspects. Commissioner Caulton- Harris continues to personally visit a number of stores and locations Commissioner Caulton-Harris through the City of Springfield Board of Health issued Regulation on Face Coverings o Mandating face coverings for all persons (with exceptions) to wear a face covering while out in public and where social distancing is not possible o Requirements for businesses to adhere to the regulation o Law enforcement and public health officials will enforce regulation 2 Mayor Sarno and HHS Commissioner Caulton-Harris continue to push and work with the state, local hospitals and healthcare facilities with community health outreach aspects to do much more symptomatic and asymptomatic testing, not only for homeless population, but for all targets Continuing with contact tracing aspects Announced the continued need and importance of adhering to all public health, personal hygiene and social distancing procedures. Still very important, even though hospitalization numbers are stable, public health is population based and community spread of the virus is still prevalent Homeless Triage facilities and operations – results showing tactical strategy is working o Total population tested - 189 individuals . 12 positives / 6.34% o Partnership with Baystate Health for testing at city’s Homeless Triage Facility o Partnership with Mercy Medical for testing at the Salvation Army and Springfield Rescue Mission – Taylor Street and Mill Street site Last day of service for homeless triage facility was Saturday, June 13, 2020 Homeless triage tenting facility was taken down July 30, 2020 o Friends of the Homeless have worked with the city to establish a plan for the transition City of Springfield team collaborated with Mercy Hospital to test City of Northampton and the Town of Amherst homeless population in the western region – 172 individuals tested Continuing to review city’s phased reopening plan City of Springfield COVID-19 hotline - (413) 750-3250 – staffed 7 days a week. 8:30am – 7pm. HHS is reminding residents that it is mosquito season and to take the proper precautions against EEE City will open cooling centers, when needed, and following all COVID-19 public health guidance As part of the Commonwealth’s Stop the Spread initiative the City of Springfield and the state Department of Public Health, in partnership with AFC Urgent Care, Tapestry Health and Baystate Health, will open additional free testing sites – appointments will be needed o AFC Urgent Care, 415 Cooley Street . Monday through Friday 11-7pm & Saturday and Sunday 10-4pm – current turn-around time is 7-10 days o Tapestry Health – 3 sites total to open. Friday, August 7, 2020 – South End Middle School – 85 tested . Tuesday, August 11, 2020 – Zanetti School – 135 tested . Friday, August 14, 2020 – Kennedy Middle School o Baystate Health . Date, time and location – TBA In conjunction with the Stop the Spread Initiative, the City of Springfield and Tapestry Health will offer additional testing sites for residents. o Below are the locations and times for each testing site. All testing will be done by Tapestry Health between the hours of 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. Kiley Middle School 180 Cooley Street Wednesday, August 19, 2020 Springfield, MA 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. Raymond A. Jordan Senior Center 3 1476 Roosevelt Ave Friday, August 21, 2020 Springfield, MA 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. Sci-Tech High School 1250 State Street Wednesday, August 26, 2020 Springfield, MA 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. Elias Brookings School 433 Walnut Street Friday, August 28, 2020 Springfield, MA 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. Clodo Concepcion Community Center (Greenleaf) Wednesday, September 2, 1188 Parker Street 2020 Springfield, MA 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. Central High School Friday, September 4, 2020 1840 Roosevelt Ave 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. Springfield, MA Elder Affairs Continues to do wellness checks on a daily basis with people in senior housing complexes and associated with senior centers. Continues to deliver meals to seniors in need, including over the weekend. Senior Centers will currently remain closed during Phased reopening o Will continue to provide meals, outreach and wellness checks o Over 14,000 meals have so far been delivered to seniors in need 1,500 cloth face coverings were made and will be distributed to seniors in need 5,000 masks to be delivered to Senior Centers for seniors Offering Zoom classes for seniors Reviewing future events for seniors o Drive-by Bingo o Trunk-or-Treat o Zoom classes and activities DPW 1 employees out due to COVID-19 Trash and recycling continue to be picked up Streets and Engineering continue to provide services Yard waste collection continues Street sweeping continues Construction projects continue to pick up o Street line painting o Street paving o Milling work o Pot holes o Sidewalks Weekly Construction projects for the week of August 24, 2020 o Baird Trace – utility work o Brunswick Street – utility work o Cooley Street – utility work 4 o Progress Street – paving tentative o Regal Street – utility work o Six Corner Project – paving tentative Continues to assist at Central High School Oasis Foodbank aspects on Fridays Eco Dev Continues to review and secure additional funding for restaurant and small business assistance grants. o Between First and Second Round of the “Prime the Pump” grant program, city has now awarded over $725,000 in grants to Springfield businesses . 45% of grants from the “Prime the Pump” were to minority businesses . 58% of the first round of ‘Prime the Pump’ grants for restaurants were awarded and contracted to minority and women owned businesses 21% minority owned 8% women owned 29% minority-women owned o 3rd Round of Prime the Pump awarded 84 grants totaling over $500,000 for local small businesses o 4th Round of Prime the Pump awarded 14 grants to local non-profits totaling $240,000.